NOAA / NCEI
Tsunamis in New Zealand
28 confirmed tsunamis originating in New Zealand. Highest documented wave: 15.0 m (N. New Zealand, 1931).
Map of observation sites
Tsunami source locations; colour and size show the highest documented water height. Click to open the event.
All documented events
28| Date | Location / station | Magnitude | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Observation records |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 24, 2023, 12:41 AM UTC | S of Raoul Island, Kermadec Islands | 7.1 | 0.11 m | — | 3 |
| Mar 16, 2023, 12:56 AM UTC | SE Raoul Island, Kermadec Islands | 7.0 | 0.11 m | — | 2 |
| Nov 30, 2022, 10:48 AM UTC | Lake Taupo, North Island | 5.3 | 1.00 m | — | 4 |
| Mar 4, 2021, 7:28 PM UTC | S of Raoul Island, Kermadec Islands | 8.1 | 1.00 m | — | 174 |
| Mar 4, 2021, 5:41 PM UTC | S of Raoul Island, Kermadec Islands | 7.4 | 0.31 m | — | 11 |
| Mar 4, 2021, 1:27 PM UTC | Gisborne | 7.3 | 0.28 m | — | 9 |
| Jun 18, 2020, 12:49 PM UTC | S of Raoul Island, Kermadec Islands | 7.4 | 0.11 m | — | 4 |
| Jun 15, 2019, 10:55 PM UTC | S of Raoul Island, Kermadec Islands | 7.2 | 0.14 m | — | 10 |
| Nov 13, 2016, 11:02 AM UTC | Off East Coast of South Island | 7.8 | 6.50 m | 2 | 17 |
| Sep 1, 2016, 4:37 PM UTC | Gisborne | 7.0 | 0.21 m | — | 4 |
| Jun 23, 2014, 7:19 PM UTC | S of Raoul Island, Kermadec Islands | 6.9 | 0.13 m | — | 5 |
| Oct 21, 2011, 5:57 PM UTC | Kermadec Islands | 7.4 | 0.14 m | — | 3 |
| Jul 6, 2011, 7:03 PM UTC | Kermadec Islands | 7.6 | 1.20 m | — | 24 |
| Jul 15, 2009, 9:22 AM UTC | Off West Coast of South Island | 7.8 | 0.47 m | — | 10 |
| Dec 9, 2007, 7:28 AM UTC | Kermadec Islands | 7.8 | 0.03 m | — | 1 |
| Sep 30, 2007, 5:23 AM UTC | Auckland Islands | 7.4 | 0.35 m | — | 8 |
| Nov 22, 2004, 8:26 PM UTC | Puysegur Trench | 7.1 | — | — | — |
| Aug 21, 2003, 12:12 PM UTC | South Island | 7.2 | 4.00 m | — | 3 |
| Oct 20, 1986, 6:46 AM UTC | Kermadec Islands | 7.8 | 0.22 m | — | 8 |
| May 25, 1981, 5:25 AM UTC | New Zealand | 7.6 | 0.30 m | — | 1 |
| Jan 14, 1976, 4:47 PM UTC | Kermadec Islands | 7.9 | 0.90 m | — | 18 |
| May 17, 1947, 7:06 AM UTC | Off Coast of North Island | 6.9 | 6.00 m | — | 3 |
| Feb 2, 1931, 10:46 PM UTC | N. New Zealand | 7.7 | 15.0 m | 261 | 6 |
| May 1, 1917, 6:27 PM UTC | Kermadec Islands | 8.0 | 0.30 m | — | 5 |
| Oct 6, 1914, 7:15 PM UTC | Tolaga Bay, North Island | — | — | 1 | — |
| Mar 20, 1910 | Lake Taupo, North Island | — | 1.50 m | 1 | — |
| Jul 9, 1895, 5:30 AM UTC | Piegon Bay | — | 5.00 m | — | — |
| Oct 18, 1868, 12:35 PM UTC | New Zealand | 7.6 | 3.00 m | — | 5 |
Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Historical Tsunami Database. Confirmed events only. Deaths and damage are database estimates; older records are incomplete. Water heights come from different types of observation.